26 May 2015 - QA 1

Gurudev, I am living in a phase in which I am allowing my emotions to take over me, and I am aware of this. Otherwise, I feel they get suppressed. Am I on the right path?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

Emotions are such that sometimes you should abstain from them, and sometimes you should express them. You can’t take extreme views here. You cannot always suppress your emotion and you cannot always keep expressing your emotion. Both will bring you difficulties and trouble.
If you always suppress your emotion you will be in trouble. If you always keep expressing your emotions, then also you will be in trouble and you will put others also in trouble. That’s why emotions should be streamlined through wisdom. When there is wisdom then you know which emotion to express and which not to express. And where you should express, and where you should not.

Suppose you are at a funeral service of somebody, then you can’t say, ‘Oh, I am so happy’, and keep jumping! People will feel like slapping you. You may be happy but you cannot express that.
Similarly, if you are sad and there is a wedding party or reception happening, you can’t go and say, ‘I am so sad’. People will not like to see you sad as they are celebrating. You will spoil the whole atmosphere.
So you have to use your discrimination - where, when, how you must express your emotions and where it is not wise to do so.